Joshua Bennett
Original sin is a Christian doctrine that asserts that everyone is born sinful, with a built-in urge to act against God's will. The concept was formalised as part of Roman Catholic doctrine by the Council of Trent in the 16th century, which gave official recognition to the idea that original sin was passed down from generation to generation. The Council of Trent's teachings on original sin were influenced by the writings of St. Augustine, who is credited with systematising the doctrine and teaching that Adam's sin corrupted human nature, making baptism necessary for salvation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | 382 AD |
| Council | Council of Rome |
| Pope | Pope Damasus I |
| Number of Books | 73 |
| Reaffirmed by | Council of Hippo (393), Council of Carthage (397), Council of Florence (1442) |
| Final Canon | Council of Trent (1545-1563) |
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What You'll Learn
The Council of Rome in 382
The New Testament canon was not determined until the late 300s, but books deemed sacred by the Church were proclaimed at Mass and read and preached about. Early Christian writings outnumbered the 27 books that would become the New Testament canon. The Council of Rome in 382, through a process of spiritual discernment and investigation into liturgical traditions, drew clear lines between books that were truly inspired by God and originated in the apostolic period, and those that only claimed to have these qualities.
The Damasian list gives a list of books of the Old Testament and, in the New Testament, 4 books of Gospels, 1 book of Acts of the Apostles, 13 letters of the Apostle Paul, 1 of him to the Hebrews, 2 of Peter, 3 of John, 1 of James, 1 of Jude, and the Apocalypse of John. This is identical to what would become the Canon of Trent. It is important to note that the text may not be Damasian, but it is at least a valuable 6th-century compilation.
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Pope Damasus I
Damasus was born around 304–305, either in Rome or Lusitania (modern-day Portugal). His father, Antonius, was a Roman priest, possibly of Spanish descent, and his mother was called Laurentia. Damasus began his ecclesiastical career as a deacon in his father's church, the basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls in Rome. He went on to serve as a priest and later as archdeacon of the Roman church.
In 354, Pope Liberius was banished by Emperor Constantius II and Damasus followed him into exile, although he soon returned to Rome. When Liberius died in 366, Damasus was elected bishop of Rome, however, a minority elected and consecrated another deacon, Ursinus, as pope. This resulted in violent battles and a scandal that rocked the Italian bishops. Damasus was accused of a grave crime, possibly sexual, in 378 but managed to clear his name in both a civil court and a Church synod.
During his pontificate, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman state and Latin became the principal liturgical language. Pope Damasus I was a zealous defender of the faith, speaking out against major heresies such as Apollinarianism and Macedonianism. He encouraged the production of the Vulgate Bible, supporting Saint Jerome in his biblical studies. He also helped to reconcile the relations between the Church of Rome and the Church of Antioch and fostered the veneration of martyrs.
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The Decretum Gelasianum
The second chapter of the Decretum Gelasianum is dedicated to the canon catalogue, while the fifth chapter includes a list of rejected works not encouraged for church use. The Decretum also includes a short endorsement of the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome over other bishops and a statement of the order of precedence of the three principal episcopal sees: Rome, Alexandria, and Antioch.
The Gelasian Decree has been a subject of debate among scholars, with some arguing that it is a pseudepigraphical work and not a genuine decree of Gelasius I. However, others defend its authenticity by suggesting that the enlarged Decretals are later editions of an earlier Damasine text. The debate highlights the complex nature of canon development in the early Christian church and the influence of prominent figures like Pope Gelasius I and Pope Damasus I.
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The four canonical gospels
Matthew is the first gospel of the four. It was written for people familiar with the Old Testament, including the Law of Moses and the prophets. It makes more references to the Old Testament than any other gospel, showing how Jesus fulfills the prophecies made about him earlier in the Bible, especially focusing on his role as the Messiah.
Mark is the second gospel and the longest of the four. It was written for a wide audience and focuses on Jesus’ role as the suffering servant and son of God. While the other gospels contain long discourses and sermons of Jesus, Mark is all about action. The word "immediately" shows up frequently, and of the four gospels, Mark reads the most like a story.
Luke is the third gospel and is considered the historical, journalistic gospel. It is a thorough account of the episodes in Jesus' life arranged in chronological order. It was written to establish believers in the teachings of Jesus. Church tradition recognizes the first-century physician Luke as the author and editor of this book, which is how it gets its name.
John is the fourth gospel. It is the oldest known gospel text, dating from the first half of the 2nd century. It begins with a statement about Jesus' divine status and then moves on to his miracles and teachings, betrayal, trial, and death, and resurrection.
The Council of Trent in 1546 approved the enforcement of the present Roman Catholic Bible Canon, including the Deuterocanonical Books as an article of faith. This was reaffirmed by the Council of Florence in 1442 and the councils of Carthage in 397 and 419.
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The Council of Trent in 1545
The Council of Trent, which first convened in 1545, was one of the most important councils in the history of the Catholic Church. It was called by Pope Paul III to address the theological and ecclesiastical issues raised by the Protestant Reformation. The council aimed to clarify Catholic doctrine and institute reforms within the Church, thus launching the Counter-Reformation. This was a series of reforms and initiatives aimed at combating the spread of Protestantism and reasserting Catholic authority.
The council held a number of meetings, with the three main sessions occurring in 1545–7, 1551–2, and 1562–3. The lengthy sessions and long delays between them meant that representatives changed over the course of the council. The council brought together a variety of competing agendas. Some churchmen, particularly members of the papal curia, resisted any reforms that would hinder their lifestyles. Bishops from Spain and France wanted a stronger, independent role. The Jesuits, on the other hand, stood firmly for papal supremacy.
The Council of Trent played a crucial role in combating the tide of Protestantism. It clarified and reaffirmed Catholic teachings, instituted clerical reforms, and standardized liturgical practices. The council upheld the Latin Mass and defined more precisely the sacrificial understanding of the Mass. It also reaffirmed key doctrines like transubstantiation, or the belief that the bread and wine become in substance the body and blood of Christ, and the seven sacraments, rejecting the Protestant claim of two sacraments. The council also rejected Protestant interpretations of Communion and affirmed that good works contribute to a right standing with God, contrary to the Protestant understanding of salvation by faith alone.
The Council of Trent's doctrinal decrees became the authoritative statement of Catholic theology and a benchmark for Catholic orthodoxy for centuries. It strengthened the authority and centralization of the Catholic Church, with the Pope and Roman Curia exercising greater control over doctrine, discipline, and appointments. The establishment of seminaries and the emphasis on clerical education and discipline helped create a more professional and better-trained clergy, improving pastoral care and preaching. The Council of Trent defined what the church would be for four centuries, until Vatican II in the 1960s.
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Frequently asked questions
The original canon of the Bible was not settled in the first years of the Church. It was only after repeated discussions that the final listing was determined by the pope and Catholic bishops. The Synod of Rome under Pope Damasus in AD 382, followed by the Councils of Hippo in 393 and Carthage in 397, defined which books made it into the Catholic canon of the New Testament.
The Decretum Gelasianum is a valuable 6th-century compilation of a list of books that would become the Catholic canon of the New Testament. It is attributed to Pope Gelasius I, who was the bishop of Rome from 492 to 496 AD.
The Catholic canon of the New Testament consists of 27 books. These include the four books of Gospels, one book of Acts of the Apostles, 13 letters of the Apostle Paul, one of him to the Hebrews, two of Peter, three of John, one of James, one of Jude, and the Apocalypse of John.
